Role of cell growth factor (interleukin-2) and its receptors in carcinoma cervix patients.

Host immunity plays an important role in neoplasia. Neoplastic activity is known to correspond with the disturbances in immunological mechanisms. T-lymphocytes DNA replication and mitosis are determined by a critical threshold of signals generated by the interaction between interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptors. So we planned to study the level of IL-2 in carcinoma cervix patients. Twenty healthy (normal) and fifty carcinoma cervix patients were investigated. The level of IL-2 was estimated by thymidine incorporation [Anderson et al., Eur. J. Immun. 9 (1979) 581-587]. A remarkable decrease in concentration of IL-2 in serum of the patients (mean = 21.62 U/100 microliters) when compared with normal healthy individuals (36.86 U/100 microliters). Immunotherapy in the form of IL-2 can be suggested in such patients.